This article is part of our “Battle of the Brands” series, in which we pit category-leading products against their peers to determine which are actually worth your money.
The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are turning golden and the rain has started to fall again, which can only mean one thing: autumn is on its way and rain jacket season is back.
Whether you’re just walking your dog through rain-soaked neighborhood streets or heading out on a multi-day backpacking trip in the mountains, you’ll need some covering to keep you warm and dry, but too often Top Gear review websites simply compile lists of pricey technical shells without taking into account the fan-favourite, lower-cost alternatives that can be found online.
So we decided to stage a metaphorical cage match between a top-selling jacket on Amazon (Frogg Toggs’ Xtreme Lite Jacket) and a technical alpine shell that experts love (Arc’teryx’s Beta LT Jacket). We pitted the two against each other in a variety of tests, from twirling around in the shower for 10 minutes to actual hiking and breathability comparisons. Below, we’ll explain how the two jackets fared in our rigorous testing and help you decide which one is worth spending your hard-earned money on.
Designed with wet conditions, multi-day adventures and epic mountain expeditions in mind, the Beta LT Jacket is comfortable, breathable, waterproof and windproof for serious outdoor enthusiasts and those who live in wet climates.
An ultra-lightweight option that’s affordable and performs surprisingly well, the Xtreme Lite jacket from Frogg Toggs will provide adequate rain protection for most day hikers, night walkers, and dog walkers who want a decent jacket at a fraction of the cost of the big brands.
Weight 12.3 oz Waterproof GORE-TEX, 3-ply Length Hip length Breathability Underarm zippers Material Bluesign approved nylon
Waterproof and breathable
Essentially, all rain jackets need to be waterproof and able to withstand many minutes in a monsoon downpour without water seeping in. While this seems like an obvious and easy standard to meet, all too often the DWR (durable water repellent) finish on a product deteriorates after multiple washes, or garments have seams that aren’t properly taped to keep out moisture where different fabrics join.
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In real-world testing, the Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket performed admirably on a wet week-long trek along Tasmania’s Overland Track. Our group was hit with heavy rain, sleet, and high winds over the first four days of the trip, but the jacket never got wet, despite carrying a heavy, wet backpack that was pressing on our backs and shoulders. After several washes, the garment showed no visible wear and performed flawlessly on a five-day off-trail backpacking trip in Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
I just completed rigorous editor-led testing of the Arc’teryx for CNN Underscored, and the jacket kept my cotton shirt perfectly dry after 10 minutes of gyrating in the shower. Another CNN editor noticed a bit of dampness when testing the garment (especially around the zipper), but my garment didn’t leak at all, aside from a few droplets near my chin.
Emily Pennington/CNNUnderscored
Meanwhile, the Frogg Toggs performed well on hikes in the foothills of the Rockies around Boulder, Colorado, and on rainy late-night dog walks around the neighborhood, but had some shortcomings when it came to the shower test. Although the coat claims to be fully waterproof with taped seams, standing facing the shower head for just a few minutes caused water to soak the entire fabric zipper and soak my T-shirt. There was also a little moisture on the top of my head, likely due to the untaped seams lining the velcro fastening on the hood. As such, this jacket may not perform well outdoors outside of afternoon drizzle or neighborhood walks.
Emily Pennington/CNNUnderscored
As for breathability, I never felt stuffy or hot wearing the Arc’teryx jacket, even when hiking 1,000 feet uphill in the Tasmanian wilderness. The underarm zippers definitely help in this regard, and the thickness of the fabric keeps out even the fiercest winds. The Frog Togs seemed pretty breathable and ventilated while walking the dog or on short hikes in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, but I did find that a bit of sweat did build up on the inside of the fabric, which made it feel sticky when I did interval sprints to get my heart rate up.
Size and Weight
This is where it’s important to decide what exactly you’ll be using your rain jacket for on a day-to-day basis. The Beta LT is a hardcore, breathable alpine shell, which means it’s designed to repel harsh weather without overheating you on long outings in the mountains. That’s why it has a thicker three-layer construction and extra features like pit zips and a fully cinched hood, making it a sturdy 12.3 ounces.
Emily Pennington/CNNUnderscored
Frogg Togg’s Xtreme Lite Jacket is exactly what it sounds like: a no-frills, ultralight raincoat that weighs just 8 ounces and packs up small. It’s not as thick, durable, breathable or feature-packed as the Arc’teryx, but at $40 it’s a good buy if you’re just looking to take a quick stroll around town or prepare for a sudden rain shower while hiking or backpacking. It did poorly in our rain testing, with the zipper getting completely soaked from top to bottom, so we wouldn’t recommend it for rainy climates like the Pacific Northwest, or for alpine climbing or multi-day expeditions.
Material and fit
In my opinion, any jacket that costs $450 should have a good sustainability story behind it, and thankfully, Arc’teryx’s Beta LT is made from bluesign-certified materials. It’s also made from breathable, waterproof Gore-Tex, designed to keep you breathable and dry on your climbs. It does this because the membrane is full of tiny holes that are big enough to let body heat escape, but too small to let water through.
Emily Pennington/CNNUnderscored
The fabric used in the Xtreme Lite jacket is described on their website as “100% polyester” and “2-layer.” After some more internet digging, I discovered that the brand uses their proprietary DriPore Gen 2 waterproof fabric in their 2-layer garments, which they ultrasonically melt rather than sew together. The jacket felt like a garbage bag when I first put it on, but it seemed to breathe well (though not as well as the Arc’teryx) while walking and running with my dog in Colorado.
Considering the thickness of the Beta LT’s shell fabric, I was surprised at how well it moved with me, even in the shower. There was no obvious binding in the arms, shoulders, or waist, and the women’s-specific fit suited my body perfectly. The Xtreme Lite jacket was a little large in the chest and shoulders, so it wasn’t particularly figure-flattering, but it did allow for a fair amount of freedom of movement. The fabric is stretchier than that of Arc’teryx’s Beta LT, but it felt much less durable and more plasticky on my arms.
Does everyone need to spend $450 on a top-of-the-line rain jacket? No. But should an avid outdoor enthusiast invest in a jacket that won’t get soggy on a long, multi-day trek or winter day hike in the Cascade Mountains? Absolutely.
The difference between Arc’teryx’s Beta LT Rain Jacket and Frogg Togg’s Xtreme Lite Jacket is like the difference between apples and oranges. Are they both fruit? Yes. But do they taste the same? Not at all.
Emily Pennington/CNNUnderscored
If you’re just looking for a “good enough” rain jacket to protect you from the occasional rain shower while on gentle day hikes, walking the dog around the neighborhood, or camping, Frogg Togg’s Xtreme Lite will do all of your needs at a tenth of the cost of a heavy-duty Arc’teryx shell.
If you want something much more durable without paying the full $450 for the Arc’teryx, consider the $180 Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, the winner of our “Tried and Tested” feature.
Emily Pennington/CNNUnderscored
But if you’re planning a thru-hike, embarking on a mountaineering trip, or living in a state that gets a lot of rain for the majority of the year (Oregon and Washington), it’s worth investing in a solid rain shell to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable. Arc’teryx’s Beta LT performed well on multiple long treks during my testing period, keeping my T-shirt dry even after multiple washes in the shower. It’s more breathable than the Frogg Toggs, has more features (like pit zips), and is made by a company committed to sustainability. If you’re a die-hard adventurer or know you have a big trip coming up, I wholeheartedly feel it’s worth the extra expense.
